HBA-JLV, MPM H.B. 461 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 461
By: Crownover
Higher Education
2/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The University of North Texas student association sponsored a student
referendum in October 2000 to determine whether students would support a
recreational sports fee of $75 to construct and equip a recreational
facility to serve the students at the university and the referendum passed.
House Bill 461 authorizes the board of regents of the University of North
Texas to impose a recreational fee on students to provide recreational
facilities for its student population. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 461 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents
of the University of North Texas (board) to impose a recreational facility
fee on each student enrolled at the university. The fee may not exceed $75
per student for each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session
or $37.50 per student for each six-week or shorter term of the summer
session.  The fee may only be imposed if approved by a majority vote of
students participating in a general election held at the university for
that purpose.  The bill specifies that the fee may only be used to
construct, operate, maintain, improve, and equip a recreational facility or
program at the university.   

The bill prohibits the board from increasing the fee by more than 10
percent in any academic year unless the amount of the increase is approved
by the university's students in a general election held at the university
for that purpose. 

The bill establishes provisions regarding the accounting and budgeting of
revenues acquired from a fee imposed under these provisions. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the 2001
fall semester.